Arteta urges Arsenal fans to stick with his side as they bid to win trophies | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal fans to stay patient and continue to get behind the team as they bid to win their first silverware since his first season in charge.

The Gunners have not lifted a trophy, apart from the Community Shield, since they won the FA Cup under Arteta back in 2020, beating Chelsea 2-1 in the final.

They face Manchester United in the third round of the competition on Sunday and following their recent 2-0 defeat to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, Arteta says togetherness at the club is crucial.

Asked how important it is for fans to remain patient with the team, he said: “In my opinion, it’s crucial.

“The success we’ve had is very much related to the atmosphere and the energy that we have created amongst our supporters so that’s it.”

Arsenal will again be without Bukayo Saka as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury which is set to keep him out for a while.

The forward was in fine form for the Gunners prior to his injury, scoring nine goals and recording 13 assists in all competitions.

But Arteta says Saka has retained his positivity around the club despite not being able to play.

He said: “He’s been around a lot. It’s great to have him. There’s always a smile on his face.

“He’s going through a period that is unknown for him because he has never been injured for such a long time.

“We have discussed the things we can do together and the things he can do to use the time in the right way to make him a better person, to make sure that he spends the time adequately with the opportunity that he has, so that when he comes back he is in the right place.

“We have unfortunately had a lot of players injured so we do it for all of them.

“But we do it for our people and because it is our job and our passion to try to do our best to win football matches.”